Loxton Cellars

I founded Loxton Cellars in 1996 to specialize in the limited production of ultra-premium Syrah wines. Being Australian by birth, a country where the dominant red wine grape is Syrah (or Shiraz as Australians would say) and with both my father and grandfather growing Syrah, along with other Rhone varieties, Syrah was a natural focus. With California becoming an adopted home, it was a natural extension to also produce limited quantities of California’s “native” grape, Zinfandel. Indeed, both are favorite wines to drink. Each produces wines of character and pleasure, both being rediscovered in the last decade in their respective adopted lands, and both produce wines that vary widely depending upon the vineyard in which they are grown. Despite a background involving family vineyards in South Australia, I came to the U.S. not through my interest in wine, but with a doctoral degree in Physics and the intention of working for a year before returning to Adelaide to learn winemaking. One year soon became ten, with brief sojourns at Penn State and Arizona State, then almost eight years at the University of Illinois, before leaving academia to follow a long held passion for winemaking. Following a year of study at UC Davis and harvests in California (Quivira in ‘92 and ‘93, Sonoma-Cutrer in ’94) and Australia (St. Hallett in the Barossa in ‘93) I joined Peter Wellington at Wellington Vineyards as Assistant Winemaker in January 1995, becoming co-winemaker with Peter after the harvest of 1997. In the summer of 2001, I left there to concentrate my efforts on Loxton Cellars.

DirectionsFrom the south (Sonoma), take Highway 12 north past Arnold Drive (about 1.5 miles) and turn left onto Dunbar Road. We are the first driveway on your right (11466 Dunbar Road). Follow the signs to the winery. From the north (Santa Rosa), take Highway 12 south past the town of Kenwood (about 3 miles) and turn right onto Dunbar Road. We are the first driveway on your right (11466 Dunbar Road). Follow the signs to the winery.

When a famous Napa Valley Winery cancelled a good friend’s grape contract just before the harvest of 2002, I couldn’t pass up the chance to make my first Cabernet from this hillside vineyard. Great color, intense cherry and blackberry fruit aromas lead to a rich yet balanced palate showing fruit, oak and tannin. Already drinking well, this should keep well for some time. 126 cases produced

Produced entirely using Syrah from the vineyard around the winery. This port has incredibly rich color, great fruit intensity and excellent balance. A great way to end the meal with good dark chocolate or blue cheese! 150 cases produced

The Hawk Hill vineyard, out near Bodega towards the Sonoma Coast, produces outstanding Chardonnay fruit. It suits the style of Chardonnay I wanted to make with intense fruit, crisp acid and less reliance on oak for flavor. This wine shows uncommon richness, citrus and tropical fruit flavors and a long finish; a great match with food. 280 cases produced.

My flagship wine is even bigger and richer than the 2001 version. The result of a banner year for Syrah in Sonoma, this wine is the best blend I could make using fruit from the Rubaiyat Vineyard on Sonoma Mountain (60%), Timbervine Ranch in Russian River Valley (37%) and Dos Aguilas Vineyard in Russian River Valley (3%). It has excellent color and a wonderful aroma leading to a big, yet balanced palate. This wine would be an excellent choice with hearty dishes and grilled meats and should age particularly well for 5-8 years. 550 cases produced.

Very much in my style of Zinfandel; not too much oak or alcohol, but great juicy Zinfandel fruit with a peppery finish. The fruit from this wine comes 70% from 40 year old, dry farmed vines on the Stonetree Vineyard in the Mayacamas Mountains, which explains the pepper, and 30% from the hillside here behind the winery at EnglandCrest Vineyard (providing weight and richness). Should continue to improve for the next few years with proper cellaring. 230 cases produced.

My first Reserve Syrah is from the excellent 2001 harvest and is 1/3 Russian River fruit from the Timbervine Ranch, 1/3 Sonoma Mountain fruit from the Rubaiyat Vineyard and 1/3 Sonoma Valley fruit from the Glen Lyon and Vadasz Vineyards. This wine represents the best wine from the best areas of my best vineyards. My reserve wine is about richness and balance, complexity and suppleness. After being bottle aged for two years prior to release, it is a wine that can be enjoyed now and over the next five years. 88-90 points from Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Guide. 144 cases produced.

With my father and grandfather as growers of Shiraz is Australia, isn’t this the wine I have to make? Perhaps a little more in synch with Australian Shiraz; it has great color, spiciness, blackberry aromas and a rich, ripe and jammy finish that reminds me of cherry cordial. Easily the best Shiraz I’ve made. Primarily made with the Australian Shiraz cuttings planted in the Rubaiyat Vineyard on Sonoma Mountain, with some fruit from the Timbervine Ranch in Russian River Valley. While tasting great now, this wine will continue to drink well over the next 3-4 years. 246 cases produced.

I discovered a small amount of the 2000 Syrah left in the warehouse. Inspired by the wines from the Rhone, the Sonoma County Syrah contains Syrah from two vineyards, blended with a small amount of Grenache and Zinfandel.

My style of port is one that expresses lots of fruit but doesn’t have too much alcohol. Made using Syrah grapes grown next to the vineyard owner’s home in a sheltered and warmer area of the vineyard that suits the riper port style wine. This port is great with dark chocolate or blue cheese! 65 cases produced.

Produced entirely using Syrah from the Salmina Vineyard in Kenwood. The grapes were gently crushed into ½ ton bins and left overnight for the juice to pick up color and flavor, then pressed to older barrels for fermentation. Lovely salmon pink color, aromas of strawberry and a clean fruity yet rich palate. The perfect summer sipper for chicken salad or grilled chicken and fish. 140 cases produced.